Vacationing by bicycle: Vacationing by bicycle: a Puffer’s guide a Puffer’s guide

Doug JohnsonDoug Johnson

Created…Created…

November 15, 2004November 15, 2004

What’s a Puffer?What’s a Puffer?

Casual bikerCasual biker No spandexNo spandex Bike less than $500Bike less than $500 Has another lifeHas another life Not too proud to Not too proud to

walk up hillswalk up hills

Why bike?Why bike?

Low stress exerciseLow stress exercise All agesAll ages Relatively inexpensiveRelatively inexpensive Scenery in slow Scenery in slow

motionmotion Meet people, not just Meet people, not just

see thingssee things

To travel by bicycle is To travel by bicycle is a humble, non-a humble, non-aggressive way to get aggressive way to get close to people. It is a close to people. It is a way of saying we are way of saying we are passing through with passing through with no thought of invasion no thought of invasion or conquest, only the or conquest, only the simple will to share simple will to share part of the road. part of the road. Claude Claude HerveHerve

My experienceMy experience

IC-MSP - 1980IC-MSP - 1980

360 miles360 miles 10 days10 days 1 biker1 biker

ScenesScenes

Trails - 1997Trails - 1997

290 miles290 miles 6 days6 days 7 bikers7 bikers

ScenesScenes

ScenesScenes

ScenesScenes

SE Iowa - 1998SE Iowa - 1998

200 miles200 miles 5 days5 days 2 bikers2 bikers

ScenesScenes

ScenesScenes

GRABAAWR-2000GRABAAWR-2000

500 miles500 miles 5 days5 days 1100 bikers1100 bikers

ScenesScenes

ScenesScenes

Provence - 2002Provence - 2002

260 miles260 miles 12 days12 days 35 bikers35 bikers

ScenesScenes

ScenesScenes

ScenesScenes

ScenesScenes

SAGBRAW - 2004SAGBRAW - 2004

300 miles300 miles 6 days6 days 1100 bikers1100 bikers

ScenesScenes

ScenesScenes

ScenesScenes

EquipmentEquipment Multi-speed bikeMulti-speed bike

Cross/good tiresCross/good tires BagsBags Water bottlesWater bottles ComputerComputer

PersonalPersonal HelmetHelmet GlovesGloves Padded shortsPadded shorts Bike shoes?Bike shoes?

Keys to enjoymentKeys to enjoyment

Train yourselfTrain yourself Maintain your bikeMaintain your bike Make your bike do Make your bike do

the workthe work Go with friendsGo with friends Stop to smell the rosesStop to smell the roses

It’s a ride, It’s a ride, not a race.not a race.

Nearby weekend ridesNearby weekend rides

Red Jacket TrailRed Jacket Trail Sakata TrailSakata Trail Cannon Falls TrailCannon Falls Trail Root River TrailRoot River Trail Sparta-Elroy TrailSparta-Elroy Trail Twin Cities trailsTwin Cities trails

ResourcesResources PrintPrint

Biking in VikinglandBiking in Vikingland Bicycle Vacation Guide Bicycle Vacation Guide

-MN & WI-MN & WI Explore MN Biking GuideExplore MN Biking Guide

ClubsClubs Bike WisconsinBike Wisconsin UWSP UWSP

- Biking and Hiking Tours- Biking and Hiking Tours

Questions?Questions?

Cycle tracks Cycle tracks will abound in will abound in Utopia. Utopia. H.G. WellsH.G. Wells